Method of quickly configuring an RFID printer

Abstract

Aspects of the invention relate to methods for automatically configuring a printer, such as a RFID printer with minimal effort from the user. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a user is able to automatically configure one or more of the following non-exhaustive list of printer settings by entering only an inlay designator and an inlay offset: a first TID position, an encode zone, a TID singulate, a read power, a write power, an encode while the web is moving flag, a stop to encode position and a maximum speed to encode while the web is moving.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of configuring one or more settings of an RFID printer comprising the steps of:
 selecting an inlay designator from a list of available inlay designators stored in the RFID printer; 
 inputting an inlay offset into the RFID printer; 
 feeding a media into the RFID printer to determine an inlay pitch for the media; 
 comparing the inlay pitch to a minimum inlay pitch and utilizing a RFID TID to singulate a RFID transponder if the inlay pitch is less than the minimum inlay pitch; 
 selecting one of a first RFID printer configuration or a second RFID printer configuration based on results of the comparison and using the inlay offset to configure one or more of the following settings of the printer: a first TID position, an encode zone, a TID singulate, a read power, a write power, an encode while the web is moving flag, a stop to encode position and a maximum speed to encode while the web is moving; 
 determining if a typical encode case is applicable and, if so, comparing a current print speed to a maximum speed to encode for the typical encode case; and 
 determining if one or more new inlay designators is available from a communication port and updating the list of available inlay designators stored in the RFID printer to include the one or more new inlay designators. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the first RFID printer configuration is selected if the inlay pitch is greater than the minimum inlay pitch. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  wherein the second RFID printer configuration is selected if the inlay pitch is less than the minimum inlay pitch. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein each of the first RFID printer configuration and the second RFID printer configuration comprises one or more of the following settings: a first TID position, an encode zone, a TID singulate, a read power, a write power, an encode while the web is moving flag, a stop to encode position and a maximum speed to encode while the web is moving. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of calculating a start encode position for the media by summing (a) an inlay start encode position and (b) the inputted inlay offset. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5  further comprising the step of calculating a stop encode position for the media by subtracting the inputted inlay offset from an inlay setback. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of calculating a first TID position by summing (a) the inputted inlay offset and (b) one half of the inlay pitch. 
     
     
       8. A method of configuring a printer comprising the steps of:
 inputting inlay information into the printer; 
 comparing the inputted inlay information to a list of pre-existing inlay information stored in the printer to determine if a match exist; 
 if a match exists, inputting an inlay offset into the printer; 
 using the inputted inlay information and the inlay offset to configure one or more of the following settings of the printer: a first TID position, an encode zone, a TID singulate, a read power, a write power, an encode while the web is moving flag, a stop to encode position and a maximum speed to encode while the web is moving; 
 feeding media into the printer to determine an inlay pitch for the media; 
 comparing the inlay pitch to a minimum inlay pitch and utilizing a RFID TID to singulate a RFID transponder if the inlay pitch is less than the minimum inlay pitch; 
 selecting one of a first printer configuration or a second printer configuration based on results of the comparison of the inlay pitch to the minimum inlay pitch and updating the list of pre-existing inlay information stored in the printer such that the printer is configured by entering the inlay information and the inlay offset; and 
 determining if a typical encode case is applicable and, if so, comparing a current print speed to a maximum speed to encode for the typical encode case. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8  wherein the first printer configuration is selected if the inlay pitch is greater than the minimum inlay pitch. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8  wherein the second printer configuration is selected if the inlay pitch is less than the minimum inlay pitch. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the printer is an RFID printer. 
     
     
       12. A method of configuring an RFID printer comprising the steps of:
 inputting an inlay designator into the RFID printer; 
 determining whether the inlay designator is in a list of available inlay designators stored in the RFID printer and, if so; 
 inputting an inlay offset into the RFID printer and using the inputted inlay information and the inlay offset to configure one or more of the following settings of the printer: an encode zone, a read power, a write power, an encode while the web is moving flag, a stop to encode position and a maximum speed to encode while the web is moving; 
 storing the inlay offset in the RFID printer; 
 feeding a media into the RFID printer to determine an inlay pitch for the media; 
 comparing the inlay pitch to a minimum inlay pitch and utilizing a RFID TID to singulate a RFID transponder if the inlay pitch is less than the minimum inlay pitch; 
 selecting one of a first RFID printer configuration or a second RFID printer configuration based on results of the comparison such that the printer is configured by entering the inlay information and the inlay offset; 
 determining if a typical encode case is applicable and, if so, comparing a current print speed to a maximum speed to encode for the typical encode case; and 
 calculating a stop encode position for the media by subtracting the inputted inlay offset from an inlay setback. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of calculating a start encode position for the media by summing (a) an inlay start encode position and (b) the inlay offset. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 12  further comprising the steps of determining if one or more new inlay designators is available from a communication port and updating the list of available inlay designators stored in the RFID printer to include the one or more new inlay designators.